I thought networking events were a total waste of time, but one in Austin last year proved me wrong.

I went to a local tech meetup just to get free pizza, but ended up talking to a senior dev from a company I liked. He mentioned a project opening that wasn't posted online yet. I applied because of his tip and got the job, which paid $15k more than my last one. Has anyone else landed a role from a random chat at an event?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennyp191mo ago

Austin really does have a good scene for that. I get what @gibson.elizabeth is saying, but honestly, going in with a goal doesn't ruin the connection for me. I keep my resume updated on my phone just in case. If a good chat turns into a chance to share it, that's a win. Treating every talk like just a friendly chat feels a bit naive when my rent is due.

gibson.elizabeth1mo ago

Same thing happened to me at a conference coffee line. Got a referral from a chat that turned into a contract gig. Those random talks are the whole point.

victorb741mo ago

You said those random talks are the whole point, but that's not quite it. The real point is showing up and being open to them. The coffee line is just where it happens sometimes. If you go in just hunting for a contract, you'll miss the actual connection. It's about the chat itself, not what you can get from it.